New York jogger murder: Police issue sketch of man wanted for questioning over Karina Vetrano death

Karina Vetrano's family have raised over $300,000 in reward money in bid to catch the killer.

New York police (NYPD) have released a sketch of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the brutal rape and murder of a young woman who was jogging in a remote parkland. Karina Vetrano, 30, usually went out jogging in her hometown of Howard Beach with her father Philip, but that day he had a bad back and couldn't run. When she failed to return home he raised the alarm and was the person who found his daughter's body.

Now police have released a drawing of a man they would like to speak to about the brutal attack on Ms Vetrano in Queens on 2 August (2016). The man, who is black, 35-45 and bearded, is not said to be a suspect of person of interest but may hold potentially vital information or have seen something suspicious.

The man was seen by a startled worker emerging from weeds in Spring Creek Park near where the speech therapist's body was discovered. NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told reporters the man wore a red t-shirt, dark pants and a hat, which was a little unusual at that time of year. "You'll remember the day was August 2 — a little unusual to be wearing a wool hat in the area there," said Boyce, as reported by Fox News.

Detective Boyce said the victim put up a ferocious strugglebefore being strangled. Philip Vetrano - a former fire-fighter - had asked his daughter not to go out jogging alone but she said she'd be fine. Her father found her body during a police search in a remote area of the park.

Now Karina's parents Philip and CathieVetrano have raised almost $300,000 (£230,000) for information leading to the capture of the killer, the money partly raised on GoFundMe. However so far police have drawn a blank. DNA found on Ms Vetrano's body and phone has so far failed to produce a match and a man Philip said he had noticed in the park for months has now come forward and been eliminated from police inquiries.

Police say Karina Vetrano struggled mightily for her life before her father found her battered body close to the jogging path.Twitter